Folding work table for paper cutting machines



R. MOHR 3,464,303

FOLDING WORK TABLE FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINES Sept. 2, 1969 Filed Oct. 19, 1966 United States Patent rm. c1. B26d 7/50,- A47b 3/00 US. Cl. 83-648 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A folding table is connected to a work table of a paper cutting machine for displacement between a folded, inoperative position beneath the work table and an extended position in which the folding table provides an additional working surface area which is flush with that of the work table. The folding table includes a first part having one end connected by a hinge to the work table and an opposite end hingeably attached to a first end of a second part of the folding table. The opposite end of the second part supports a follower which is guided in a rail such that by acting on the first part, the table can be folded and displaced from its extended position to its unfolded position beneath the work table and vice versa.

This invention relates to a folding table for providing additional working surface area to that of a work table of a paper cutting machine.

The introduction of extremely large-size paper sheets gives rise to difiiculty inasmuch as, during the cutting of the entire ream, the latter is required to be rotated on the front work table of the cutting machine. The width of the table is often inadequate for this purpose, owing to the diagonal dimension of the stack, so that the stack has to be pushed by the operator into the zone of the cutting knife.

Quite apart from the inconvenience and time-consumption resulting from this procedure, the operator is also endangered owing to his having to work within range of the cutting knife.

A further disadvantage consists in that, during the pushing of the stack, the accurately aligned sheets can be displaced relatively to one another.

It is an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided.

in combination, a work table of a paper cutting machine, a folding table comprised of a first part and a second part and displaceable between a folded position and an extended position in which it provides additional working surface area, pivot means fixed relatively to said work table and connected to one side of said first part, hinge means connecting the opposite side of said first part to one side of said second part, a follower connected to the opposite side of said second part, and guide cam means cooperating with said follower for guiding said follower during displacement of said folding table between said folded position ta-nd said extended position.

By means of the invention, the working surface area of the machine can be enlarged, so that, on this enlarged area, it is possible to rotate stacks, the dimensions of which would project beyond the standard table dimensions, without the operator coming within range of the cutting knife or without the individual sheets being displaced relatively to one another.

Advantageously, the folding table has its working surface fiush with that of the work table when in the extended position, whereas in the folded position, it is ice folded below the work table. The displacement of the folding table may be elfected manually or by a motor. For displacement of the folding table, the first part is connected to one end of a link, and the other end of the link is connected to a crank. The crank may be driven by a motor, the motor being switched off, by terminal switches, as, the appropriate folded or extended position of the folding table is reached. In the folded position of the folding table, the two working faces of the parts of the folding table preferably bear one upon the other.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, which shows a diagrammatic side elevation of a work table of a paper cutting machine and a folding table for providing additional working surface area.

Referring to the drawing, a folding table 1 has a part 5 pivotally mounted, by way of a support arm 2, on a pivot 3 fixed below a front table 4 of the machine. The table part 5 of the folding table 1 is provided at its forward side with a bracket 6 having fixed thereto a pin 7 on which one end 8 of a link 9 is pivotally mounted. The other end 10 of the link 9 is pivotally mounted on a pin 11 of the crank 12 which is turnably mounted on a shaft 13 and is driven by an electric motor 14. A table part 15 is connected via a hinge 16 to the table part 5. The table part 15 has at its forward side a bracket 17 carrying a pin 18 slidably guided in a guide rail 19. The guide rail 19 serves as a guide cam means for the pin 18 which functions as a follower, as will be explained later. The extended position of the folding table is shown in full lines, the table 1 prolonging the front work table 4 of the paper cutting machine. Consequently, a stack of paper positioned on the rear work table can, with the aid of a feed saddle or carriage, be displaced onto the folding table and can there be rotated without hindrance. When the stack of paper is again on the rear work table, the cutting operation can be initiated and a cutting step takes place in a conventional manner. Before the commencement of the cutting operation, the folding table is displaced into the folded position which is shown in chain lines and in which the table 1 is beneath the table 4. During this movement, the crank 12 rotates c0unterclockwise and, as it does so, pulls the part 5 downwardly. Simultaneously, by means of the hinge connection 16, the part 15 of the folding table 1 is entrained by the part 5 and is so guided by the pin 18 in the guide rail 19 that it passes into the folded position shown.

When this folded position has been reached, the circuit of the motor 14 is broken by the operation of a terminal switch.

'In order that the moving-in and moving-out of the folding table may be synchronized with the various steps of the working cycle of the entire cutting program, i.e., in order that the operation may be completely automatic, the control pulses for the drive of the folding table are expediently produced by a program-carrying means which carries the cutting program.

I claim:

1. In combination, a work table of a paper cutting machine, a folding table comprised of a first part and a second part and displaceable between a folded position and an extended position in which it provides additional working surface area, pivot means fixed relatively to said work table and connected to one side of said first part, hinge means connecting the opposite side of said first part to one side of said second part, a follower connected to the opposite side of said second part, and guide cam means cooperating with said follower for guiding said follower during displacement of said folding table between said folded position and said extended position.

. 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said i work table is at the front of said machine, said pivot means is disposed below the front of said work table, said guide cam means extends from forward of the front of said work table to below the front of said work table, and said folding table is displaceable between a folded position below the front of said work table and an extended position in which its working surface is flush with that of said work table.

3. A combination according to claim 1, and further comprising second pivot means provided on said first part, a link turnably mounted at one end on said second pivot means, a crank pivotally connected to the opposite end of said link, and drive means connected to said crank for turning said crank to displace said folding table between said folded position and said extended position.

4. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said folding table is displaceable into a folded position in V 4 which the working face of said second part is in contact with the working face of saidfirst part.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said guide cam means comprises a channel-form rail, and said 5 follower comprises a pin slidably mounted said rail.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 725,464 4/1909 m2 269-309 x 2,703,740 3/1955 Cochard 103-73 X 2,760,571 8/1956 Dayton 83-648 x 2,978,944 4/1961 Overly 269309 x 15 WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R.' 

